Where to stay

Choosing where to stay in Nevada comes down to how you want to spend the days. Las Vegas Strip leads the state with 45 hotels, and it is the only place in Nevada holding 5-star, 4-star and 3-star guides together. Reno and Lake Tahoe each hold 30 hotels, while Incline Village, on Tahoe's north shore, adds another 30. Laughlin, Sparks, Carson City and Boulder City round out the main choices, with 9 to 14 hotels apiece.

Match the place to the trip. The Strip suits first-timers who want everything within one stretch. Lake Tahoe and Incline Village are the picks for water and mountain air, and both carry parking among their facilities, with 12 and 15 parking hotels respectively. Reno combines 4-star and 3-star options across 30 hotels. Boulder City stands out for families, with 4 family hotels, the most of any Nevada place here. Laughlin, Sparks and Carson City keep things simple with 3-star hotels.

In Nevada, 3-star hotels are the backbone: Laughlin, Sparks, Carson City and Boulder City list only 3-star stays, and Lake Tahoe, Reno and Incline Village all add 3-star rooms alongside their 4-star ones. Pick 3-star for a simple, well-located base. The 5-star tier exists in one place only: the Las Vegas Strip, with 15 five-star hotels among its 45. The Strip is also the state's 4-star centre. For a northern trip, Reno, Lake Tahoe and Incline Village are the 4-star options, none of them with 5-star hotels. Families lean toward Boulder City (4 family hotels) and Reno (5).